The 49ers (10-1) host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-7) at Candlestick Park on Sun November 18, 1984.
Joe Montana continues. Roger Craig and Wendell Tyler share the backfield. The Buccaneers start Jack Thompson at quarterback with James Wilder at running back.
Tampa Bay is 4-7 and struggling in the NFC South. The 49ers come in with five games left in the regular season.[1][2][3]
After Craig's 213-yard game in Cleveland, Walsh turns the offense over to the running game again. Tyler runs for 190 yards and the 49ers win 24-17 without Montana throwing a touchdown pass. The ground game carries the result while Montana protects the ball on 23 attempts with zero interceptions.
Tampa Bay at 4-7 is the right opponent for the 49ers' grinding December run game. James Wilder is the Buccaneers' best weapon; the 49ers' front seven must hold him to keep the game from being close.
Week twelve continues the November home stretch. The 49ers (10-1) have clinched a playoff berth. Tampa Bay (4-7) is eliminated from postseason contention. The Dolphins (11-0) are the league's last perfect team. The NFC's Bears (8-3) and Cowboys (8-3) are the 49ers' conference competitors. The 49ers' home game against Tampa Bay is the week's schedule tune-up.
Through eleven games the 49ers are 10-1 with a plus 155 differential. The Buccaneers are 4-7 with a minus 71. Thompson is 122 of 224, 1,765 yards, 11 touchdowns, 14 interceptions. Wilder has 237 carries for 1,103 yards. Montana is 221 of 351, 2,901 yards, 23 TDs, eight INTs on the year. Tyler has 531 rushing yards through 11 games.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 6-5 | L1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 4-7 | W1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 2-9 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 1-10 | W1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Miami Dolphins | 11-0 | W11 |
| New England Patriots | 7-4 | W1 |
| New York Jets | 6-5 | L3 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 4-7 | W1 |
| Buffalo Bills | 0-11 | L11 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 10-1 | W9 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 9-2 | W5 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 7-4 | L3 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 5-6 | L2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 5-6 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco 49ers | 10-1 | W4 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 7-4 | W2 |
| New Orleans Saints | 5-6 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 3-8 | L5 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 7-4 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 4-7 | W3 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 4-7 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 3-7-1 | L1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 3-8 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 7-4 | W1 |
| Washington Redskins | 7-4 | W2 |
| New York Giants | 6-5 | L1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 6-5 | L2 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 4-6-1 | L1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| No scoring this quarter. | ||
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Roger Craig 2 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 0-7 |
| Buccaneers | Obed Ariri 27 yard field goal | 3-7 |
| 49ers | Freddie Solomon 3 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 3-14 |
| Buccaneers | Jimmie Giles 9 yard pass from Steve DeBerg (Obed Ariri kick) | 10-14 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Wendell Tyler 1 yard rush (Ray Wersching kick) | 10-21 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Buccaneers | Gerald Carter 9 yard pass from Steve DeBerg (Obed Ariri kick) | 17-21 |
| 49ers | Ray Wersching 39 yard field goal | 17-24 |
Wendell Tyler rushed for 190 yards and three touchdowns as the 49ers beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-17 at Candlestick Park. Joe Montana finished 19 of 23 for 247 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. The 49ers' ground game produced 190 yards on 38 carries. James Wilder ran for 90 yards. The 49ers improved to 11-1.[1][2][3]
Tyler's 190-yard, three-touchdown performance matched Craig's Cleveland output as the season's individual rushing highlight. Montana managed the game with 247 yards and zero turnovers while Tyler carried the scoring burden.
The 49ers' 38-carry, 190-yard rushing performance was the year's most efficient ground game output. Tyler's three touchdowns gave the offense its points without the passing game contributing a score. Montana's 19-of-23 completion percentage — 83% — showed how clean the short game was.
Wilder ran for 90 yards and the Buccaneers' offense kept the game from being a blowout. Thompson threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns. Tampa Bay's 17 points reflected an offense that moved the ball but could not stop the 49ers' ground game from controlling the game.
49ers 24, Buccaneers 17. Margin: plus 7. Record: 11-1.
A 24-17 home win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tyler's 190-yard rushing day leads the offense.
How it unfolded
Tyler scored in the first quarter and again in the second. A third Tyler rushing touchdown in the third gave the 49ers a 21-7 lead. A late Wersching field goal closed it at 24-17 after Tampa Bay's two scores.
The turning point
Tyler's second rushing touchdown in the second quarter. The 49ers built a two-score lead and the running game's volume prevented the Buccaneers' offense from getting enough possessions to mount a comeback.
By the numbers
Tyler 190 on 38 carries, three touchdowns. Montana 83% completion rate with zero turnovers. The ground game's 38 carries were the most at Candlestick this year. Thompson 316 yards for Tampa Bay — impressive stats in a losing effort.
What it means
11-1 heading to New Orleans. The running game has produced 213 yards (Craig) and 190 yards (Tyler) in consecutive weeks. The 49ers' offense is impossible to stop when both backs are producing.
| SF | Opp | |
|---|---|---|
| Team totals | ||
| First Downs | 23 | 25 |
| Total Yards | 397 | 428 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
| Passing | ||
| Comp/Att | 26/41 | 19/23 |
| Pass yards | 316 | 247 |
| Pass TD | 2 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 2 | 0 |
| Sacks taken | 1 | 2 |
| Sack yards lost | 8 | 9 |
| Net pass yards | 308 | 238 |
| Rushing | ||
| Rushes | 20 | 38 |
| Rush yards | 89 | 190 |
| Rush TD | 0 | 3 |
| Discipline | ||
| Fumbles | 2 | 3 |
| Fumbles lost | 1 | 3 |
| Penalties | 7 | 3 |
| Penalty yards | 38 | 35 |
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Joe Montana #16 | 19/23 | 247 | 0 | 0 | 111.4 |
| TAM | |||||
| Steve DeBerg | 26/41 | 316 | 2 | 2 | 83 |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 16 | 97 | 1 | 25 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 16 | 86 | 1 | 27 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Joe Montana #16 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Derrick Harmon | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| TAM | ||||
| James Wilder | 18 | 89 | 0 | 18 |
| Steve DeBerg | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Carl Monroe | 2 | 73 | 0 | 47 |
| Dwight Clark #87 | 5 | 56 | 0 | 20 |
| Earl Cooper #49 | 3 | 32 | 0 | 15 |
| Freddie Solomon #88 | 2 | 24 | 0 | 13 |
| Roger Craig #33 | 4 | 22 | 0 | 8 |
| Renaldo Nehemiah #82 | 1 | 22 | 0 | 22 |
| Wendell Tyler #26 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Mike Wilson #85 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| TAM | ||||
| Gerald Carter | 9 | 166 | 1 | 44 |
| Kevin House | 4 | 50 | 0 | 27 |
| James Wilder | 5 | 35 | 0 | 17 |
| Jimmie Giles | 3 | 25 | 1 | 9 |
| Jerry Bell | 2 | 24 | 0 | 19 |
| Adger Armstrong | 2 | 11 | 0 | 12 |
| Theo Bell | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
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